Preparing for ACFW Conference

Several months ago I decided that moving to the next level in my writing career required attending the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in Dallas in September. It's September! While I had attended the Greater Philly Christian Conference 2x in the past, the ACFW is much bigger! Here are things I am doing to prepare for ACFW in just a few weeks:

1. I reserved my hotel and airline. I completed the LONG conference form including the classes I plan to attend, the editors and agents I want to meet, and the meals I hope to eat. By the time I was done, I had no idea what I had signed up for! Hoping I made good choices, I made notes in my journal about what choices I had made, set the conference on the back burner, and paid the bills when they came in (EEK!!! WHAT HAVE I DONE?).
2. I signed up for the first timer's loop. I've been receiving hints about what I should do in preparation for the conference. Some of those things will be listed here. Unfortunately the loop also has a frightening effect, as in WHAT AM I DOING?
3. I prepared a "one sheet" describing my new book A Time to Choose in concise and intriguing form in hopes of finding a publisher or an agent willing to take me on. Several iterations later, I printed 6 copies on nice stationary. Why 6? That's how many options I had to list on the conference registration to get 2 appointments with publishers/agents. I'll load it on a flash drive in case I need more copies.
4. I printed business cards. Lots of business cards. With all conceivable ways to contact me! And with my picture. I also created a label with said contact info to stick on the back of my Gold Earrings business cards.
5. I have finished, almost, editing and reprinting my new book A Time to Choose. I plan to load the digital copy and several other pertinent documents on $4 flash drives to give to anyone who can help me find a publisher or agent! Prayer for this is much appreciated.
6. I bought flash drives on sale at Office Max.

I'm sure I'll find many more ways to drive myself crazy in these few coming weeks. Please pray for my anxieties and fears. Please pray that God puts the correct people in my path to allow A Time to Choose to be published. Pray that I feel I received professional contacts and instruction that is well worth the time and cost to go to ACFW Conference. Finally pray for my health, that I would be able to make the most of the time in Dallas, including seeing my brother and his family.

Writing Contest Winner!

Fourteen-year-old Cameron Presson of Thompson Station, TN, claimed first prize in the 2012 New Christian Books Summer Writing Contest. He entered a modern Jonah story entitled “In the Belly of a Jail” about a 16-year-old arrested for driving while intoxicated, who surrendered his life to Christ after being incarcerated.

 “I think all the entries are beautifully creative work. All these writers should be encouraged to keep writing,” remarked one of the judges, Katherine Harms. She is author of Oceans of Love, a book with 30 days of meditations on God’s love built on texts relating to oceans and water.

Second place went to 11-year-old Victoria Rifa of Yakima, Washington, for her wail tale, Double Trouble, involving squabbling twins who turned to God after an earthquake.

Third place went to 14-year-old Maisie Lay of Marshall, IL, for her story, “To Learn Responsibility,” about a girl who was sent to military school for a day after leaving her baby brother alone.

Receiving Honorable Mention Awards were Nathan and Daniel Bae, of Irvine, CA, and Stephen Gordon, Tampa, FL.

New Christian Books, an online magazine serving the Christian reading and writing communities, sought modern Jonah stories from 10 to 14 year olds for its summer contest held in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network. The network is a group of Christian authors who have bonded to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"It was my goal to teach and reinforce the lesson of Jonah: there is price to pay when you disobey,” says the magazine’s publisher Cheryl Rogers, “while at the same time introducing the magazine and the work of Christian authors to new readers.”

Rogers has penned a number of ebooks, including the short story collection Just Like Jonah Wail Tales that inspired the contest. The ebook involves characters who land in a whale of trouble for making the wrong choices, but who seek God and are restored.

The judging was done by a panel of Christian authors including Harms and Acacia Beumer, author of Launch Out Into the Deep; Lisa Lickel, author of First Children of Farmington to be released later this year; Diane Tatum, author Gold Earrings; Cheryl Rogers and her son David Rogers, a 13-year-old Williams Middle School student in Tampa, FL, as junior judge.

The contest was sponsored by Samantha Ryan Chandler, author of A Love Story: How God Pursued Me and Found Me, An Impossibly True Story; Linda Yezak, author of Give the Lady a Ride; Jairus King, author of Men's Ministry Handbook for Christians; Mike Lynch, author of After the Cross; Tom Blubaugh, author of Night of the Cossack; and Sana Edoja, author of Knowing God.

 
The winners received cash and other prizes, including books by Christian authors Acacia Beumer, Laura Davis, Lorilyn Roberts, the founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network; and Cheryl Rogers.

Middle School Writing Contest!

Wanted: Young Readers and Writers

The New Christian Books Online Magazine is recruiting readers and writers for its 2012 Summer Writing Contest. Readers will be junior judges and writers will submit short stories that teach the lesson of Jonah: There is a price to pay when you disobey.

The first place winner will receive $100 and a $50 Walmart gift card, plus free books from Christian authors Acacia Beumer, Laura Davis, Lorilyn Roberts and Cheryl Rogers.

Entries will be accepted from June 1 though July 15 at contest.newchristianbooks@earthlink.net .  All stories must be wail tales, or short stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words that teach the importance of obedience to God.

Wail tales are, in essence, exaggerated tales of woe involving a youth who has made bad choices and lands in a whale of trouble, just like Jonah in the Bible. In the end, the youth must call upon God and be restored through his grace.

The contest is being held in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network, a group of Christian writers who have bonded to promote the gospel through their writing.

 “I believe the contest is a fun way reinforce the lesson of Jonah,” says Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine. “It’s also a chance for budding writers to practice their craft.”

Rogers authored Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, a storybook collection featuring modern Jonahs who make mistakes but turn to God and receive his mercy.

Judges include:

* Acacia Beumer, who was awarded the Dove Foundation’s “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12 plus for her book Launch Out Into the Deep!  Beumer also is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award Gold Medal for the Most Outstanding Religion and Spirituality Book.

 * Katherine Harms, author of Oceans of Love, a book with 30 days of meditations on God’s love built on texts relating to oceans and water;

 * Lisa Lickel, author of First Children of Farmington, six stories of settler children and their families, which is illustrated by Brenda K. Hendricks, slated for release in time for Christmas 2012;

 * Diane Tatum, author of the historical love story Gold Earrings, who taught middle school Language Arts for 11 years in Tullahoma City Schools; and

 * Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine.

 Junior judges are volunteers ages 9 through 17, who will receive free copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales and the John 3:16 Marketing Network's sampler book, Taste and See.

Here is a list of prizes:

First place: $100, $50 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me and the accompanying Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert's upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed paperback copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Second prize: $75, $25 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Third prize: $25, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; an 18" x 12" Scripture poster quoting John 3:16; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Honorable Mention Awards will be given if the judges choose to recognize one or more excellent wail tales not chosen for the other awards. These award winners will receive e-copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, the John 3:16 Marketing Network sampler book Taste and See, and Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about our Maker by Cheryl Rogers.

All of the award winners will have their wail tales published in either the New Christian Books Online Magazine, an ebook, or both.

Learn more.

And the winner is ....

Laura Davis has won a $25 gift card for her participation in the Blog Hop! Congratulations!

The John 3:16 Marketing Network Kindle winners are

 

Marnie Pohlmann

Patricia Day

More info available at

http://john316mn.blogspot.com/2012/05/announcing-winners-of-kindle-raffle.html

Hope you enjoyed the Blog Hop! We're already talking about when to do this again!

Book launch for A Tumbled Stone

Today is the book launch for Marcia Laycock's A Tumbled Stone. Marcia Laycock's new book, A Tumbled Stone, is the sequel to A Smooth Stone . Get freebies by purchasing a copy and going to www.writer-lee . Help Marcia impact the world for Christ by telling your friends, too.

Continue the Blog Hop until midnight PST. Drawing for free stuff occurs tomorrow!

a'>http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Hop Participants:

1. Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Blog) – http://john316mn.blogspot.com/
2. Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog) - http://wordsalt.wordpress.com/
3. Laura J. Davis - http://interviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/
4. Paulette Harper - http://www.pauletteharperjohnson.blogspot.com/
5. Carol A. Brown - http://connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com/
6. April Gardner - http://www.aprilwgardner.com/
7. Sue Russell – http://www.suerussellsblog.blogspot.com/
8. Thomas Blubaugh - http://tomblubaugh.net/
9. Susan F. Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com/
10. Heather Bixler – http://heatherbixler.com/
11. Joy Hannabass – http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/
12. Deborah Bateman - http://www.DeborahHBateman.com
13. Kimberley Payne - http://www.fitforfaith.blogspot.com/
14. Rose McCauley – http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com
15. Lisa Lickel - http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com/
16. Alice J. Wisler - http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/
17. Amanda Stephan - http://www.thepriceoftrust.com/
18. Saundra Dalton – http://gracetolivefree.blogspot.com/
19. Tracy Krauss - http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/
20. Ashley Wintters - http://ashleyschristianbookreviews.blogspot.com/
21. Deborah McCarragher - http://www.godmissionpossible.blogspot.com/
22. Lorilyn Roberts - http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/
23. Anita Estes - http://anita-thoughtsonchristianity.blogspot.com/
24. Martin Roth – http://www.military-orders.com
25. Kenneth Winters – http://www.lostcrownofcolonnade.com/
26. Eddie Snipes – http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
27. Diane Tatum - http://tatumlight-tatumsthoughts4today.blogspot.com/
28. Janalyn Voigt - http://janalynvoigt.com/
29. Alberta Sequeira – http://www.albertasequeira.wordpress.com/
30. Tammy Hill – http://tammyhillbooks.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html
31. Marcia Laycock – http://www.writer-lee.blogspot.com/
32. Nike Chillemi - http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/
33. Elaine Marie Cooper - http://wp.me/PVo1a-1vM
34. Sidney W. Frost - http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-to-john-316-giveaway-blog-hop.html
35. Jairus B. King – http://ministerjking.blogspot.com
36. Bill Burt - http://kotbooks.blogspot.com/
37. Kathy Eberly - http://authorkathyeberly.blogspot.com/
38. Bob Saffrin - http://bobsaffrin.com/
38a Julie Saffrin - http://juliesaffrin.com/2012/05/08/heres-how-to-possibly-win-a-kindle-and-autographed-copy-of-blessback/
39. Theresa Franklin - http://theresa-lifesjourney.blogspot.com/
40. Ray Lincoln - http://blog.raywlincoln.com/
41. Lilly Maytree - http://www.lillymaytree.blogspot.com/
42. Yvonne Pat Wright - http://www.spicetoeternity.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/come-blog-hopping-with-john-316-marketing-network-members-for-gifts-and-prizes.html
43. Pauline Creeden - http://fatfreefaith.blogspot.com/
44. Katherine Harms - http://livingontilt.wordpress.com
45. Brenda Wood - http://heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com/
46. Deborah Malone - http://deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com/
47. Melissa Main – http://www.mainwriters.com/
48. Kevin Main - http://mainchristianbooks.com/
49. Sandy Humphrey - http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog/
50. Felice Gerwitz - http://www.writingandpublishingblog.com/
51. Hallee Bridgeman - http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee
52. Lisa Mills - http://www.authorlisamills.com/blog/

Blog Hop!!! The Last Day to WIN! May 14, 2012

Today is the last day for the J3:16 Blog Hop!

As one of the members of this great network of Christian Authors, I am excited to participate in this event!

My first novel is a Christian historical romance called Gold Earrings. The theme concerns judging others by outward appearance. Read about it on my website www.dianeetatumwriter.weebly.com. You can order a signed copy from me at the website through PayPal, paperback or hardback OR order a paperback copy from Amazon.com.

I am in the process of editing my 2nd historical novel, A Time to Choose, set in Civil War Washington DC.

When you leave a comment and your email address at THIS blogspot, you will automatically be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Just follow the link to rafflecopter which is keeping track of this for me!

Marcia Laycock's Latest

Welcome another book from one of the members of the John 3:16 Marketing Network!

Marcia Laycock's new book, the sequel to A Smooth Stone, is A Tumbled Stone. Check out the following blurb:

Andrea Calvert had to run away. She couldn't stay on the farm, shaming her parents . She couldn't face being pregnant and alone. She would take care of this on her own.  As she struggles to make life-changing decisions, Andrea discovers a diary and the wrenching story about her family's dysfunction. But is Andrea’s life at risk at Evie’s Diner?

Here's a short excerpt:

Sitting on an old fallen cottonwood, she put a hand on her stomach. She should feel something. But there was only numbness now, even when she thought about Cory. What would he do if he knew she was carrying his baby?

She could still hear the rushing water in the creek. The wind had increased and seemed to punish the trees. She pushed herself up and headed back toward the house, each foot crushing the ground in front of the other. She could feel the stubble under her shoes like blunt needles trying to break through.

The back door swung silently as she opened it into the kitchen. Earl had fixed the squeak. He was always fixing things, quickly, before they became a bother.

But he can’t fix this.

Intrigued? Find A Tumbled Stone on Amazon!